Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-06

the surface and the base so as 60 prevent
the pavement from being stripped when repairs
are necessary. In course OF time, Therefore, snc-
cesSiye repairs viii result In undue thickenins VI
the pavement and its elevation above the proper
grade.
IL Is doubtful, also. Il the pavement itself can
De laid with That certainty OF result as 70 The
delicate balance between undue hardening In
winter ana undue SCREENING In summer, W ich mas
been reached by the standard asphalt. Every en-
deavor has been made 10 accomplish this, since
no alternative offered. and the services OF the DIS
trfct chemist have proved extremely valuable In
this direction.
Great Improvements have been made during the
past year In the laying OF curb and footways but
with reference TO these latter In particular much
remains 20 be accomplished Brick sidewalks may
De regarded as obsolete for improved streets their
sole merit being the cheapness with which they
can be originally laid The footways OF the city
should be at least as pleasant and satisfactorg 10
some form OF shert Pavement of moderafe c,sI.
withln, say 81 per yard. Is desirable.
Az the present time the asphalt tile Is regarded
vtdual cases the grsnolithlc pavement which
really has no superior has been laid by the owners
% S PremseS but The price Of Is cents per square
STREET CLEANING
The expense OF cleaning the streets increases
year by year with the expansion OF street surface
and their greater use. The present appropriations
make 1t practicable TO DO q certain amount OF
sweeping only, the basis OF the contract being
LOCO square yards swept and the material COL
lected and carted away. The frequency with
which streets are swept Is az the present time
insufficient TO keep them IN satisfactory condition
A large number are swept but twice week. once
Q week, and once In two weeks and the interval
elapsing between the visits OF the sweeper is such
that before the ensuing visit the street Is Uttered
with refuse. The sole remedy ID such gradual
increase OF the appropriation as VIII snfice 10 meet
based upon the Contract price per loo wards,
would be diminished by the establishment OF suit
able plant for the burning OF the material In con-
cost OF collection and disposal The present street.
sweeping machinery Is not by any means as per-
feet as Il can be made and IL Is deficient In means
or taking up the material when swept from the
street toward the gutter, otherwise than by the
use OF the broom and shovel What Is needed In
street-sweeping machine by another which should
enectually clean up the winrows without the
tnterposlton OF gangs OF laborerx IL Is not known
that machinery or this kind Is In present operation
STREET LIGHTING.
In the matter OF street lighting, while it is be-
leved on the whole that the gas companies main
tain a fair APPROXIMATION to the standard Of light
required by law. the actual illumination OF the
streets OF Washington is insufficient as the width
to diminish the relative effectiveness OF the lamps
The cost Of these per annum is nxed by Law az
SO, and their number is therefore regulated by
the amount OF the appropriation.
As the price paid Is at least moderate, diminu-
ton can b. made In this direction and IN order 70
increase the number OF lamps 70 what the city
needs additional means must be provided.
Congress recognized this fact In the last appro-
prfation by increasing the amount and q still
further increase win be needful hereafter as con-
siderable OF the city are to-day without due
Illumination. rendering them In some cases unsafe
for passers after nightfall
ing number OF lamps, the economical practice has
been followed OF emitting 10 light them when the
moon is shining. but this uncertain means OF illumi
nation cannot be relied upon, and the average
Der or hours OF lighting should be Increased from
1900 TO at least 600
During the past year - electric lights were
m ali N a lQfznQ mr. RAFT IN
for the current yearit is proposed 70 double the
number.
advance within the past few years, ana is now
recognized as an Indispensable adjunct OF munich
pal engineering.
Pennsylvania avenue, between 18th ana LIST,
portion OF street from 18th TO 9TH, and nth street
from Pennsylvania avenue to . street, are now
lighted by electric lights
sylvania avenue westward to Washington Circle
TO light New York avenue and 14th street In the
vicinity OF q street and later as FUNDS are avail
able, TO extend this service.
The presence In the air and In proximity TO
buildings OF electric cables carrying currents OF
danger, and strenuous endeavors are baking 70 dis
cover some reliable means by which these high
currents can be carried In underground conduits
ON 9TH street the new lights are carried upon
poles, since air-lin were already In existence
but on the westward extension OF the line on
conduits Of terra-eotta bedded upon concrete and
having cemented joints TO exclude dampnesA
through which the cables are TO be drawn.
II this experiment be found not to give entire
satisfaction, IL Is still believed that other means
will shortly be found to accomplish the same END.
plicabis to washington. ana rs nspiiola a9vs AZ
tages are recognized as soon as seen.
IL is hoped that provision will be made in the
near future for the establishment OF these lights
at any rate upon the more important streets and
avenues and lines Of communication
TEE INSPECTOR GAS AND METERS.
Referring to the report OF the inspector OF gas
and meters, 1t will be seen that the laboratory
work OF the inspector demonstrates moderate
variations from time to time In the pressure and
candle power OF the gas, but observation OF the
actual lighting In the streets indicates that means
should be taken to improve the character OF the
public lamps by the substitution Of Improved
forms OF burners for those now IN use.
In this connection the attention OF Congress is
invited TO the apparently homogeneous relation OF
the inspector to the District government, which
maintains the service and pays his salary, and
who should be therefore a regularly appointed en-
PI0ye OF The District by ys1 1ne 81 act Which Is
is vested In the President, and confirmation Is
Quired by the senate OF the United States. IL is
constitute the inspectorshp or gas and meters q
regular bureau OF the District government
THE Parking COMMISSION.
The report OF the parking commission gives
much Interesting data not heretofore available
with reference TO the number and variety OF the
trees In the streets and indicates the rapid annual
extension OF the field which has been SO carefully
and tntelligently cultivated
II Is believed that q solution OF the tree-box
problem has been found In the use Of galvanized
Iron wire netting loosely envei0ping the tree for
it's protection and, for those not needing the &C
tual support Of the box, replacing Il sdvan-
tageousiy without impairing the appearance OF
the streets serving as hafoor tor caterpillars.
The commission has cOmoatted the caterpillar
plague With gratifying success, and their report
Contains interesting and valuable data upon this
subject but IL has required unremlttlng attention
a.
the granting OF more liberal appropriations IN
der that the force employed hy the Commission
may be judiciously enlarged
TELEGRAPH AND TRLEPHoNI SERVICE.
The construction and maintenance OF o tele-
graph and telephone system under the control OF
the District especially In connection with the po-
lice and fire departments, is Indispensable 70 the
due efactency OF those important branchseL In Cd
US the schools, so that fntercommuncation h pos
sible over the city, partly through the District
plant and partly through the telepone company
The principle difcuty in all this matter of tele-
graph and telephones In the city limits Is the "
gency always brought 70 bear for the increase OF
poles and air-hDeS
The Telephone Company lays cables In the
streets and airlines only In the alleyA The tele-
graph companle have heretofore maintained air.
lines only, and are naturally unwilling GO 70 the
expense OF underground c0nduitA notWiLnstand-
ing the fact that they recognize the advantage OF
these and the economy OF maintenances after orig
OF this matter will best be reached by the DIVISION
OF the original cost between the District ana the
companies and along the trunk lines least q ts-
graph wires such as on S.. Underground con0uits